Bucatini with Pancetta, Tomato and Chilli
Mario Matassa’s take on bucatini all’amatriciana is a classic from Amatrice in Lazio. Puritans argue that the dish must be made using guanciale (cured pork cheek), but pancetta makes a fine substitute Serves 4 Preparation More...
Vero Italiano: classic Italian dishes
Food writer Mario Matassa introduces some Italian classics – traditional dishes that are known all over the world, yet rarely prepared properly outside of Italy – and shows us how they should be made… Photos More...
Spaghetti carbonara
Mario Matassa guides us through the recipe for a truly authentic spaghetti carbonara… it’s both simple and delicious. Get set to cook like an Italian! Serves 4 Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking More...
The best short pasta on test
There are hundreds of pasta shapes out there, some more familiar than others. Here we try out seven short pastas – read on and enhance your Italian cooking! With the best will in the world, no one has time to More...
Pasta Vongole
Serve this classic Italian seafood pasta in hot bowls and finish with a sprinkling of chopped herbs – a perfect midweek meal for any time of year Serves 4 Preparation time 15 mins Cooking time 10 mins Ingredients: 800g More...
Past Italia: Pasta in Italy
This image of a 19th-century factory in Naples illustrates just how fundamental pasta is to Italian cuisine Where or when pasta originated is something we will never know. A lot of the problem lies in what we mean More...
Seducing my husband without salt: Part 1
Rachael Martin on what living in Italy has taught her about food: from pasta to risotto and beyond… The first time I made my Italian boyfriend a dish of pasta, he took one mouthful and looked at me. Horrified. More...
Linguine with spicy prawns
This linguine with spicy prawns or linguine con gambrel picanti is a fantastic dish for a midweek meal. Make this for your family this week – you can make it as hot or as mild as you like! Linguine with More...
Filled pasta
Simple and satisfying, there is an amazing array of flavoursome filled pasta to be found on the market these days – we taste seven leading brands to find our favourite. While there is nothing to rival a melting More...
Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli
This pasta dish by Lakeland is just what is needed for a tasty meal. Ingredients: For the pasta: 160g ‘00’ flour, plus extra to dust 240g fine semolina 5 eggs For the filling: 600g cooked spinach, squeezed More...